TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1996//
TI  - Prevalence of child sexual abuse among adolescents in Geneva: results of a cross sectional survey
JO  - British medical journal: BMJ
A1  - Halpérin, D. S.
A1  - Bouvier, P.
A1  - Jaffé, P. D.
A1  - Mounoud, R. L.
A1  - Pawlak, C. H.
A1  - Laederach, J.
A1  - Wicky, H. R.
A1  - Astié, F.
SP  - 1326
EP  - 1329
VL  - 312
IS  - 7042
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To measure the cumulative prevalence of child sexual abuse in a representative sample of the adolescent population of Geneva. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey with an anonymous self administered questionnaire centred on a factual description of sexual activities. SETTING: 68 classes (17 schools) randomly selected from the 201 ninth grade classes of the public school system in Geneva. SUBJECTS: 1193 adolescents aged 13-17 years, of whom 1116 (93.5%; 568 girls, 548 boys) consented to the study and returned completed questionnaires. RESULTS: 192 (33.8%) girls and 60 (10.9%) boys reported having experienced at least one sexually abusive event. The prevalence of abuse involving physical contact was 20.4% (116 cases) among girls and 3.3% (18) among boys. The prevalence of abuse involving some form of penetration was 5.6% (32 cases) among girls and 1.1% (six) among boys. One third of the abused adolescents had experienced more than one abusive event and 46.5% (92/198) had experienced the first event before age 12. Abuse by a family member was reported by 20.5% (36/176) of abused girls and 6.3% (3/48) of abused boys. Abusers were known to victims in two thirds of cases. Ninety per cent of abusers were male and 35.3% (71/201) came from the victim's peer group. Over 80% of participants found the questionnaire interesting, clearly formulated, and useful. CONCLUSIONS: Child sexual abuse is a universal social phenomenon. Adolescents themselves can contribute to research and so help in the search for more efficient prevention and intervention strategies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p> 
LA  - en
SN  - 0959-8138
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -